Quebec Cheese Curds

Cheese curds, or fromage en grains, are a favourite of my Dad's. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad now live in British Columbia, and he can't find the stuff in any of his local stores. We were recently able to find a store that sells them about seven hours away from their home, and fortunately my parents drive out that way now and again for appointments. They were also able to get the curds, imported from Quebec, at the Walmart near my sister's home. Dad is now stocking up on bags of the cheese curds, which he keeps in the freezer so he can make them last between trips. It goes completely against what everyone tells you about eating this kind of cheese, but at least this way he has some when he wants it.

What are Cheese Curds?

Simply put, cheese curds are a food that deserves to be on any cheese lover's bucket list. They are soft but solid, they are just salty enough that you can never get enough, and they squeak when you chew them. They are the ambrosia of snack foods!

Fromage en grains is a product of Quebec in the 1950s or 1960s - not nearly as long ago as I originally thought. Apparently this era saw a large surplus of milk in the province, and due to the large supply cheese makers began buying up extra milk at low cost. Needing to find a quick way to process the milk, they made an unripened cheese that could be produced without taking up extra space in their manufacturing facilities.

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